Cop28 deal brings world ‘significantly closer’ to 1.5°C goal, Biden says
US President Joe Biden welcomed the historic agreement at Cop28 that for the first time called for a transition away from fossil fuels.
The agreement, announced the summit Presidency on Wednesday, brings the world “one significant step closer” to achieving the goal of keeping the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, he said.
The climate pact outlines a transition away from fossil fuels, but there are concessions to developing countries, coal users and gas exporters.
The final text calls for global renewable energy capacity to be tripled by 2030, with efforts increased to improve projects including carbon capture.
Mr Biden said “vulnerable countries have called on major economies to take urgent action” on climate change.
“In every corner of the world, young people are making their voices heard, demanding action from those in power,” he said. “They remind us that a better, more equitable world is within our grasp. We will not let them down.”
US climate envoy John Kerry also hailed the agreement reached by delegates at the summit in Dubai.
“The global stocktake underscores that we must continue to drive investments in climate action at all levels, put policies in place to incentivise change and shift finance away from the things that put our shared prosperity at risk,” he said.
US pledges during the twoweek conference included a joint agreement with Canada to “renew and accelerate” efforts to combat the climate crisis by reducing methane emissions and focusing on sources of clean energy.
The US Agency for International Development also announced a series of initiatives, including a project to improve water infrastructure resilience in Jordan.
But Washington faced criticism for not doing enough to offset its carbon emissions.
The US pledged to contribute $17.5 million to the loss and damage fund.
The UAE pledged $100 million to the fund, while the UK said it would pay $75 million.
A study on carbon inequalities from the University of Leeds found the US holds the “single largest climate debt” to affected countries, at an average of $2.6 trillion a year.
The Biden administration has worked to prioritise climate action, with investments in the Inflation Reduction Act carry aimed at accelerating the domestic energy transition.